Masked Militants Enforce Price Control in Rafah Markets

A member of a local group stated that "masked militants in Gaza have begun patrols to prevent merchants from exploiting the situation and profiting in Rafah, which is sheltering over a million Palestinian displaced people fleeing from the Israeli air and ground campaign." Nearly five months into the war, prices in Gaza have risen as all commercial imports have ceased following the onset of fighting after October 7, with only limited amounts of humanitarian aid reaching the area. Most of Gaza's population, which numbers 2.3 million, currently resides in Rafah near the border crossing with Egypt, mostly in tents and other temporary shelters after fleeing the destruction in other parts of the enclave. Social media images showed masked men beside vendor tables in the markets. In one image, two men armed with rifles were visible, and in another, six men were seen wielding batons. The images also displayed bands on the heads of the baton-wielding men inscribed in Arabic: "Popular Protection Committee." A man who described himself as a member of the committee said in a phone call with Reuters that their action was necessitated by the circumstances to enforce law and order, as police patrols have disappeared from the streets after being targeted by Israeli strikes. The man, who requested anonymity for fear of Israeli retaliation, stated that their action aims to "punish those who exploit people's needs."